Electric lighting fixture for ceiling mounted lights

ABSTRACT

An electric lighting fixture comprising a pair of cooperating mounting assemblies, one of which carries a socket for an electric light bulb, and the other of which is adapted to be mounted on the ceiling. The two mounting assemblies include two cooperating pairs of terminal elements, each of which has a lateral projection thereon so that when the two mounting assemblies are fitted together and turned slightly, the lateral projections on the terminal elements overlap each other so as to both mechanically and electrically connect the two mounting assemblies. The lower mounting assembly also includes a peripheral flange which supports the inner edge of a lamp shade adapted to fit down over the lower mounting assembly.

United States Patent {72] Inventors Hiroshi Oshima;

Yasutaka Morishita; Isao Kuribayashi, Kadoma, Osaka, Japan [2] I Appl. No. 717,352

[22] Filed Mar. 29, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 9, 1971 [73] Assignec Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd, Osaka. Japan a corporation of Japan [32] Priority Apr. 5, 1967 I 3 I J p [3 l 42/28331 and 42/28333 [54] ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR CEILING MOUNTED LIGHTS 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 240/78, 240/521, 240/73, 240/137, 240/153 [5 i] lnt. CI F21s1/06 [50] Field of Search 240/78,

52.1, 73, 68, 85, 88, 125, I37, 153, 78CF, 78DA Primary Examiner-John M. Horan Assistant ExaminerRichard L. Moses Attorney-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit and Osann ABSTRACT: An electric lighting fixture comprising a pair of cooperating mounting assemblies, one of which carries a socket for an electric light bulb, and the other of which is adapted to be mounted on the ceiling. The two mounting assemblies include two cooperating pairs of terminal elements, each of which has a lateral projection thereon so that when the two mounting assemblies are fitted together and turned slightly, the lateral projections on the terminal elements overlap each other so as to both mechanically and electrically connect the two mounting assemblies. The lower mounting assembly also includes a peripheral flange which supports the inner edge of a lamp shade adapted to fit down over the lower mounting assembly.

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INVIiN'IORS Hmosm OSHIMA YASUTAKA MORISHITA (9W A'r-rYs.

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. INVIiN'IORS Hma'sm DSHIMA YASUTAKA MORISHITA IsAo KURIBAYASHI ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR CEILING I MOUNTED LIGHTS This invention relates to lighting devices to be mounted directly on ceilings.

In conventional lamp supporting devices to be mounted directly on ceilings, the device body is mounted on a ceiling with screws or the like and an electric connection is made by connecting electric power lines to device terminals or lead wires. However with many such devices, it is very troublesome to mount the device and, once it is mounted, its removal is so complicated that it is difficult to replace, clean and maintain the device and the traces of the screws will be left on the ceiling. Further, in most cases, a lamp shade fixed to such device body has been difficult to replace.

The present invention is suggested to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages.

A main object of the present invention is to provide alighting device which can be connected with an electric source part on the surface of a ceiling without using a suspending cord and by a simple operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device which permits the lamp shade to be replaced in a simple manner.

Other objects of the present invention shall become clear upon reading the following descriptions with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a vertically sectioned view of a lighting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same as disassembled.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line III-III in FIG. I.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an application.

The present invention shall now be described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, it should be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated, but rather to include any modifications and equivalents that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, I is a device body or first mounting means made of a synthetic resin and provided with a disc-shaped flange 2 projecting from the lower part and a cylindrical tubular part 3 in the center part below said flange 2. A screw-type socket 4 and a central conductor piece 5 are fixed within said tubular part 2. Each of 6 and 7 is a conductive hanger bent inward in the upper and lower parts so as to be a U-shape, and with the upper bent part of each hanger projecting upward through an opening made on the upper surface of the above mentioned device body 1 so as to be opposed to the upper bent part of the other hanger. The conductive hangers 6 and 7 are connected in the lower parts respectively with the socket 4 and central conductor piece 5 through fixing rivets.

8 is a ceiling. 9 is an electric source base part or second mounting means having 'power line terminals I0 and II secured to the ceiling by screwing or any other means. The bent parts at the upper ends of the above mentioned conductive hangers 6 and 7 are hung respectively on the bent parts at the lower ends of the power line tenninals l0 and 11 secured within said electric source base part 9 so that the device body I may be fixed to the electric source base part 9. I2 is an opening made on the lower surface of the electric source base part 9.

When the conductive. hangers 6 and 7 projected on the upper surface of the device body I are inserted through the respective openings I2 on the lower surface of the electric source base part 9 and the device body is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3, the conductive hangers 6 and 7 engage respectively with the power line terminals 10 and 11 provided in the electric source base part 9 so that they are electrically connectedand, at the same time, the device body is mechani- 'c'ally connected with the electric source base part 9. Thus the device can be stably mounted directly on the ceiling 8.

When the device body is to be removed from the electric source base part 9, the device body may be rotated clockwise in FIG. 3, and the conductive hangers 6 and 7 may be pulled base part 9.

I3 is a lamp shade having a hole I4 in the center of the upper surface. By mounting lamp shade 13 on the flange 2 of the device body I on the periphery of this hole 14, the lamp shade l3 can be fitted t0 the device body.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a ceiling. 9 is an electric source base part. I is a device body having a plurality of lamp supporting brackets 15 secured to the lower outer peripheral part of the body I. I6 is a circular fluorescent lamp fitted to the above mentioned lamp supporting brackets I5. I7 is a socket. I8 and [8 are lead wires. 19 is a ballast secured within the above mentioned device body I. 6 and 7 are conductive hangers. The lead wires I8 and 18' from the socket 17 are connected, respectively, to the conductive hanger 6 through the ballast I9 and the conductive hanger 7 directly.

When the conductive hangers 6 and 7 projecting from the upper surface of the device body I are inserted through the respective openings 12 of the electric source base part 9 and are engaged respectively with the above mentioned power line terminals I0 and 11, they are electrically connected and, at

the same time, the device body is mechanically connected with the electric source base part 9. Thus the device can be stably fixed directly to the ceiling.

FIG. 5 shows an example of using the present invention. 1 is a device body. 9 is an electric source base part. By connecting between them a certain length of electric cord 21 having respectively at the upper and lower ends thereof the connecting parts 20 and 22 of the same fonnation as the structure for cone connecting the electric source base part 9 and the device body I as is shown in the above described embodiment, the device body I can be arranged to be closer to the floor.

In the present invention, as described above, by merely fitting and engaging the conductive hangers provided to project directly out of the upper surface of the device body on and with the electric source base part secured to the ceiling,

out through the respective openings 12 of the electric source an electric connection can be made and, at the same time, the

device can be mechanically stably fixed directly to the ceiling. I

Therefore, it is very simple to fix and remove or disconnect the device, it is very easy to replace, clean and maintain the device body and it is also simple to replace the shade.

We claim:

I. An electric lighting fixture comprising the combination of I socket means for receiving an electric light source, first mounting means connected to said socket means, second mounting means adapted to be mounted on the surface of a ceiling, said second mounting means including a pair of power line terminals each having a lateral projection thereon, said first mounting means including a pair of electrically conducted hanger elements electrically connected to said socket means and projecting upwardly from said first mounting means, each of said hanger elements including a lateral projection for engaging the lateral projection on a corresponding one of said power line terminals for both mechanically and electrically connecting and disconnecting the two mounting means, said mechanical and electrical connection being made by the engagement of the lateral projections of said second mounting means with the hanger elements of said first mounting means and said first mounting means also including a peripheral flange extending laterally outwardly from the outer surface thereof, and a lamp shade adapted to fit down over said first mounting means and having a center hole with a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of said flange whereby the inner edge of said shade rests on said flange for supporting said shade.

2. An electric lighting fixture as set forth in claim I wherein the socket means connected to said first mounting means includes a cylindrical tubular member formed as an integral part of said first mounting means and extending downwardly from the lower surface thereof, a screw-type socket element disposed within said tubular portion and electrically connected to one of said hanger elements, and a central conduc-- I 

1. An electric lighting fixture comprising the combination of socket means for receiving aN electric light source, first mounting means connected to said socket means, second mounting means adapted to be mounted on the surface of a ceiling, said second mounting means including a pair of power line terminals each having a lateral projection thereon, said first mounting means including a pair of electrically conducted hanger elements electrically connected to said socket means and projecting upwardly from said first mounting means, each of said hanger elements including a lateral projection for engaging the lateral projection on a corresponding one of said power line terminals for both mechanically and electrically connecting and disconnecting the two mounting means, said mechanical and electrical connection being made by the engagement of the lateral projections of said second mounting means with the hanger elements of said first mounting means and said first mounting means also including a peripheral flange extending laterally outwardly from the outer surface thereof, and a lamp shade adapted to fit down over said first mounting means and having a center hole with a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of said flange whereby the inner edge of said shade rests on said flange for supporting said shade.
 2. An electric lighting fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein the socket means connected to said first mounting means includes a cylindrical tubular member formed as an integral part of said first mounting means and extending downwardly from the lower surface thereof, a screw-type socket element disposed within said tubular portion and electrically connected to one of said hanger elements, and a central conductor element disposed within said screw-type socket and electrically connected to the other of said hanger elements. 